24.04.15
SmartWater extends contract with Network Rail
Network Rail has awarded forensic crime fighting specialist SmartWater a five-year contract to support the organisation’s crime prevention strategy.
The renewed contract for CP5 is a continuation of the partnership between the two companies which helped reduce cable theft on sections of the railway by more than half.
Phil Cleary, CEO of SmartWater, said: “We are delighted to be continuing our partnership with Network Rail. Helping the rail industry to innovate its approach to crime reduction has widespread impact, going beyond cable theft to having a positive impact on trespassing and vandalism.
“Collectively, this makes the railway safer for passengers, employees and the wider public. As the railway modernises and expands, then projects like this, which help protect the network, are ever more essential.”
In its previous work on the rail network SmartWater collaborated closely with British Transport Police and Network Rail to bring traceability to cable infrastructure and greater accountability to would-be thieves. The innovative project saw the company win the Rail Asset Management and Security category at the 2015 UK Rail Industry Awards.
SmartWater conducted an analysis of Network Rail’s crime data to identify potential risks, crime hotspots and trends, which allowed for the rapid deployment of SmartWater traceable liquid products and covert cameras to vulnerable locations in order to protect ‘at-risk’ cable.
The work of SmartWater on the LNW line saw cable thefts fell by 54.7% over a three-year period, increasing to 63.4% following the introduction of the Scrap Metal Dealers Act 2013. During the same period, delayed minutes to train services on the LNW line were cut by 54.9%, providing a better service to commuters and increasing their confidence in the rail network.
The new contract will see a continuation of previous progress. Network Rail will continue to collaborate with SmartWater on community awareness programmes, covert operations and scrap metal dealer visits as well as use of the forensic liquid for further cable marking.
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